**Career Area:** Procurement **Job Description:** **Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.** When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. Caterpillar Inc. has an exciting opportunity for a **Supplier Development Engineer** in our Clayton, NC facility. This is an exciting Strategic Sourcing role within the Cab and Cab Components Category team focusing primarily on the North American supply base with regular interaction with Global Suppliers and Caterpillar Production Facilities in North America and receiving facilities in Brazil and India. This position assesses the supplier quality and ensures that all the products are free from defects and are in compliance with manufacturing specifications and legal standards. As the key strategic quality liaison within your supply base, you will be responsible for developing and fostering strong relationships with your suppliers that will yield optimized and repeatable delivered quality. You will support suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans to ensure sourced parts from your suppliers meet all the quality requirements for the numerous in flight NPI programs. This role will be well suited to a person with an abundance of positive energy and resilience. **What You Will Do:** + Understand Caterpillar design requirements and ensure suppliers have the processes capable of supporting quality targets. + Generating reports on supplier quality, by monitoring their defect rates and areas that can lead to potential flaws; Guiding suppliers to reduce these defect rates. + Researching the potential suppliers, assessing their manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures; Conducting supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational standards. + Supporting and developing suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans. + Review and approve documents relevant to supplier processes such as PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), CAR (Corrective Action Report) and deviations. **What You Have (Basic Qualifications):** + Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, agriculture, industrial or technical curriculum **AND** experience working with suppliers to deliver on product quality. + Proficiency in data-driven decision making, with a demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret data to inform strategic decisions. + Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, enabling effective collaboration with internal teams, stakeholders, and suppliers. + Demonstrated strong negotiation skills that includes the ability to interpret, analyze and communicate Caterpillar requirements. + Well-developed interpersonal skills in dealing with sensitive issues, developing others, and reaching consensus on specific actions + Experience with quality methodologies necessary to support process improvement. **Top Candidates Will Have** : + Quality management system experience with tools, techniques and/or Lean Manufacturing preferred but not essential. + Experience with weld, metal fabrication and/or paint processes. + Experience cab manufacturing and/or assembly. + Experience with cab components such as seats, glass, door components, etc… + Professional certification in Purchasing and/or Inventory Management preferred: APICS, CPIM, CSCP, or comparable certification. + High level of attention to detail and strong data manipulation skills within Excel. + Strong leadership ability to influence cross-functional teams for effective planning & implementation. **Additional Info** : + Domestic relocation may be considered for those who qualify. + 25% of travel is expected (domestic and international) + ISE assignment is **not** available for this position + Visa sponsorship is **not** available. **What You Will Get:** Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world. Here you earn more than just a salary because we value your performance. We offer a total rewards package that provides day one benefits [medical, dental, vision, RX, and 401(k)] along with the potential of an annual bonus. Additional benefits include paid vacation days and paid holidays (prorated based upon hire date). **About Caterpillar:** Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. \#LI Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers. **Posting Dates:** October 17, 2024 - November 6, 2024 Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen. EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community (http://flows.beamery.com/caterpillarinc/talcom) .